Deaths in South Florida: 6/20

Eileen Therese Shumer Watson, 85, of Hallandale Beach, passed peacefully at home on June 14. The eldest child of Oscar and Margaret Shumer, Eileen grew up in Coral Gables, attended Miami HS, where she was a highly rated tennis player, and the University of Florida. Eileen worked for Exxon and Nassau Downs OTB in New York. Eileen and husband Jules Watson were married for 48 years before his passing in July 2017. Eileen is survived by daughters Marsha Matthews and Joni (Cliff) Bail, son Andrew (Estrella) Watson, grandchildren Hilary, Eric, Olivia, Owen & Melanie, brothers Frank and Robert (Ann) Shumer, and beloved pups, Chipper and Dazy. The family will have a private service. Donations may be made to http://www.hollydogs.org/how-you-can-help/ to help rescue greyhounds.

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JoAnn Donat, beloved wife of J. Bernard Donat Jr., devoted and loving step-mother, grandmother, sister and friend to so many, passed peacefully at her home in Lighthouse Point, FL on June 18, 2019. JoAnn or "Jo" as we have come to know her, was born JoAnn McIlvaine in Cleveland, Ohio. Jo moved to Lighthouse Point in 1972 and had been enjoying life there ever since. She loved cruising the world, reading countless novels, playing Mahjong, going to the theatre or casino with her friends and spending time with her family. Jo is dearly missed already and will always be remembered for her caring and joyful personality. A memorial will be held at a later date and details will be provided at that time.

VENUE ADDRESS CHANGE. passed away June 5, 2019 at the age of 65. A memorial will take place Friday June 21, 2019 at Scarano PRESIDENTIAL CIRCLE MEMORIAL CHAPEL located 4351 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, Fl 33021

Dale Edward Lee, 79, son of Dorothy Herbert and Lannie Lamar Lee, Sr. left this world on Friday, June 14, 2019, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. Dale was born at home in Ft. Lauderdale on December 17, 1939. He attended Southside Elementary School, Naval Air Station Junior High School, and Fort Lauderdale High School. Dale also attended the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and Georgia Southwestern University. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force as a Corpsman stationed in Thule, Greenland.Dale was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Lannie Lamar Lee, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marcia Durham Lee; his children Deborah Suzanne Lee (Harry Lambos), Dr. Daniel P. Lee (Michelle) and Kristin Lee Barclay (Bruce); grandchildren Robert Daniel Barclay, Brodie Lee Barclay, Savannah Burdick Lee and Luci Annabelle Lee; sisters JoAnn Lee Wenger and Annette Lee Abbey as well as 9 nieces and nephews.During his career, Dale served many cities in Broward County as their Building Official, most recently as Building Official of North Miami Beach and Bay Harbor Islands. He served as the President of the Building Officials Association of Florida and served on the Board of the Broward County League of Cities. After Hurricane Andrew, Dale helped to rewrite the South Florida Building Code.Dale was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. An adventurous man, Dale loved flying, scuba diving, classic cars and traveling. He and Marcia visited 6 of the 7 continents finishing their last trip together to Italy, Croatia and Spain in November. While his children were growing up, Dale served as a baseball and football coach at Holiday Park and in the Band Parent Association of Ft. Lauderdale High School. Dale and Marcia enjoyed attending their children's and grandchildren's extracurricular activities to support them and cheer them on. He loved spending time in Cape Charles, VA working on their 100-year-old Colonial home and celebrating the July 4th holiday when the whole family would come together for quality time away from everything. Dale was a proud Flying L, Class of 1958, helping to plan class reunions for the past 45 years. He was an active member of the Church By the Sea Men's Club, Choir and Corporate Board for over 20 years. Dale had a playful sense of humor, was generous to a fault, and a friend to all. He will be deeply missed by everyone whose life he touched.A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 11:00 am Church By the Sea 2700 Mayan Drive Ft. Lauderdale. A reception will immediately follow in the church Social Hall. Donations may be made in memory of Dale Lee to the Church By the Sea Choir.

Patricia (Pat) Blum, of Deerfield Beach, Florida and St. George, Utah, passed away on June 18, 2019 at the age of 80. Pat was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 6th, 1939 to Gertrude and John Burdy. Pat grew up in Union City, New Jersey, graduated from Union Hill High School in 1957 and later from NJ State College. She held advanced degrees in African Art and Psychology from NYU. She studied at the New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis and practiced as a therapist in Bergen County for many years before moving to Florida. She traveled extensively throughout her life, with visits to Russia, Africa, Asia and Europe. Pat also lived in Mallorca, Spain for a time in the 1960's when she was a professional dancer. Pat had a wonderful sense of humor and was a charismatic storyteller, eager to share wisdom she'd collected from her travels, including her stint as a Las Vegas showgirl during the Rat Pack era. Equal parts street-smart and book smart, she loved to play bridge, deep sea fish, spoke enough Spanish and Italian to get by, saw Miles Davis perform, always over-tipped the waitstaff, was well-read and had an extensive African art collection. Pat had great taste in clothes, music, curse words, cars, movies and men. She loved vacationing with her sister Ginny and her nieces and nephews, whom she collectively taught how to shuffle cards, sneak into a casino, audition for the role of a con man in "Annie", and how to advocate for themselves whenever necessary. Pat knew how to make the perfect dirty martini, run a small motel chain and could even walk in heels while wearing a full white feather headdress. She will be deeply missed by her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and John, second husband Danny Blum, third husband Richard "Dick" Phayer and her cats Petunia and Sunshine. She is survived by stepson Harry Hill and family of St. George and Japan, sister Virginia (Ginny) DeRuggiero of Wallington, NJ and Ginny's four children, Felice DeRuggiero (Peter) of West Newbury, MA, Jason DeRuggiero of Mt. Tabor, NJ, Alec DeRuggiero of Brooklyn, NY and Erin DeRuggiero (Yvette) of Minneapolis, MN. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions in Pat's name to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510 or https://support.peta.org.